If I were to think of when I began to paint and who influenced my way of expressing what I think, I would probably not find just one answer. What has been always curious to me is the simplicity of the moment, what I'm reading, what's around me, small daily problems.

During my formation, the person that most made me recognize the sense of artistic expression was Umberto Casotti, a Roman painter and my professor at Artistic high school, in Rome. From him I learned the humility to "learn", or rather, to know how to listen and like a sponge spontaneously reconstruct in my mind what the world around me offers. With him I became aware of Art Brut as a means of expression.

During my 6 year stay in Brazil, I had the opportunity to discover a new way to look at life. I had the great fortune to become associated with the Siron Franco group, a famous Brazilian painter and political activist. What Siron painted was different, spontaneous and had a great psycological strength. Even today I am still passionate about his work.

I must logically add to this experience, publicity. I have worked in this field since 1975 and this has created in me the need of constant versatility in whatever I paint. If I have to express a concept, it doesn't matter if I change the painting technique because for me what's important is the subject and that which I want to represent. Marketing is the tool, the rest will come.

When I feel I have finished a theme, I no longer have the neccesity to continue in that direction, and prefer to present myself with a new challenge.and see where it will end up. Every work is a new experience technically and expressively and this stimulates me.

I don't think of an exhibition impulsively, I always think of a theme that I read or passed through mind, only when I paint am I impulsive otherwise the technical would win over the creativity. Everything is valid when the artistic background exists.

I am now involved in two completely different themes: the first deals with femininity, and the second with Hackers and their social revolution against the power of the multinational corporations.

Born in Modena, Italy in 1952, Claudio Zirotti currently lives in Valencia, Spain. His works are held in private collections in Rio de Janeiro (Brasil), São Paulo (Brasil), Atlanta (USA), Castellón (España), Valencia (España), Rome (Italy), Istambul (Turkia)